Abstract :
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical signs, hematological changes and pathological
findings caused by ingestion of plastic ropes in goats. Ten female goats under one
year of age were used in this study. They were equally divided into two groups: test (n = 5)
and control (n = 5). In the test group, each goat was fed with an 80 cm long plastic rope
marked with radiographic markers. All animals from both groups were examined on alternate
days during the 50 days of experiment. Blood samples were collected from both groups
on days 1 and 50.
During the experiment no clinical signs were observed. The rumens in the test group
were radiographed to evaluate the location of the rope. All animals were slaughtered on
the day 50. Ingested plastic rope did not produce any significant changes in mean values
of packed cell volume, white blood cells, differential leukocyte count, and serum calcium,
phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose, albumin, fibrinogen and
total protein concentrations.
At necropsy examination most lesions were found in ventral sac of rumen. Microscopic
examination revealed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the thickness of corneous layer of
ventral sac, and muscular layer of ventral and caudoventral sacs. A significant reduction
(p < 0.05) in the thickness of mucosal and submucosal layers of the ventral and cranial sacs
was seen. Hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis and severe hydropic degeneration on mucosal layer
and increase in the number and dilation of lymph vessels in the serous layer were observed
in the test group.
